XRP crosses 8 million user addresses as price continues to fall

XRP has crossed 8 million user addresses, but the token’s price has continued to fall sharply since the start of January. Despite growing network activity, market pricing has remained weak, reflecting uncertainty around Ripple’s regulatory situation and the broader direction of crypto markets.

Price decline continues below $0.50

XRP is trading below $0.50, a steep drop from its peak above $1.00 in late 2025. The selloff has persisted even as Ripple continued to announce partnerships with banks and financial institutions, including a new deal announced on March 22, 2026 for international payments using Ripple’s blockchain technology with a major European bank.

Regulatory overhang remains central

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) lawsuit, filed in December 2020, continues to weigh on sentiment. The case has created ongoing uncertainty about whether XRP should be classified as a security. A court hearing is scheduled for May 2026, when Ripple’s lawyers are expected to present additional evidence in opposition to the SEC’s claims.

Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer David Schwartz said on April 2, 2026 that the company remains committed to innovation and expanding XRP’s real-world uses. Schwartz emphasized building a “robust ecosystem” intended to support a range of financial applications.

User growth vs. market pricing

The milestone of 8 million user addresses signals real expansion in network activity. Each address can represent someone or an institution holding or using XRP. However, the article notes that the market has not yet translated this adoption into stronger price performance.

Analysts cited in the article point to a disconnect between user growth and valuation. Some attribute the ongoing price weakness to regulatory fears, while others argue XRP could rebound if Ripple prevails in the SEC case. The legal dispute is described as influencing market sentiment, institutional adoption, and retail confidence.

Partnerships and ecosystem strategy

Ripple’s partnership announcements are positioned as part of a longer-term strategy to embed XRP into traditional financial systems, particularly for cross-border payments. The article suggests these deals may take time to show results, but they are intended to build utility that could eventually support improved market performance.

Schwartz’s remarks also indicate Ripple is pursuing broader ecosystem development beyond payments, aiming for XRP to support multiple financial use cases. The stated goal is to diversify demand and reduce reliance on speculative trading dynamics.

What to watch next: May 2026 court hearing

The May 2026 court hearing is highlighted as potentially pivotal. A favorable ruling could help unlock price potential that the article links to user growth, while an unfavorable outcome could deepen the gap between adoption and valuation.

The article also notes that XRP trading volume has remained relatively stable despite the price decline. Some investors view current levels as an opportunity, betting that regulatory clarity will arrive, while others remain cautious until the legal situation is resolved.